Chennai: Reports of indiscipline inside school classrooms have continued to surface, raising concerns that learning spaces are being disrupted. Educators say the School Education Department faces growing pressure to take steps to guide students back on track.
In recent years, classroom environments are said to have deteriorated, with students filming “reels”, intimidating teachers and crossing boundaries. A 2024 video from a government higher secondary school in Naganur, Kulithalai (Karur district) showed a student tying a thali to a fellow student inside a classroom. More recently, an incident at a government school in Viraganur, Madurai, drew attention after a student allegedly assaulted a classmate despite teachers trying to stop it.
Other episodes have involved alcohol use by students. Visuals from a government school in Thuckalay, Kanyakumari district, showed girl students consuming alcohol in a classroom. Earlier cases cited include a 2014 report from a government boys higher secondary school in Tiruchengode, a 2015 incident at the Tiruchengode government girls school where students recorded and shared a video, and a 2022 episode near Thirukazhukundram in Chengalpattu district involving students drinking on a moving bus.
Despite such incidents, critics say there has been little sustained action over the years, including on preventing students from bringing mobile phones to school. Educationist Nedunchezhiyan said the state should focus on strengthening human resources and expanding industries, while also addressing the strong influence of social media on youth.
He added that the gap in teacher-student relationships needs to be reduced, and that past incidents should be used to design measures to prevent recurrence. He also called for early identification of students showing risky behaviour in public spaces, psychological support, and the formation of special teams within the School Education Department to safeguard student welfare.
